Marc Anthony

Marc Anthony, born Marco Antonio Muñiz; September 16, 1968 is an American musician, singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads. He was married to Jennifer Lopez. The couple announced their separation on July 15, 2011.

Anthony has won numerous awards and his achievements have been honored through various recognitions. He was the recipient of the 2009 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Chair's Award. He also received the "2009 CHCI Chair's Lifetime Achievement Award" on September 16, 2009. As of 2009, he ties with Víctor Manuelle for having the most number-one singles in the Billboard Tropical Songs chart.

Anthony is a minority owner/limited partner of the Miami Dolphins NFL team.

Early life

Marc Anthony was born Marco Antonio Muñiz in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, Guillerminna, a housewife, and Felipe Muñiz, a musician and hospital lunchroom worker. His parents named him after Mexican singer Marco Antonio Muñiz. He was raised Roman Catholic.

Personal life

Anthony married former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres on May 9, 2000 in Las Vegas. They have two sons, Cristian Marcus Muñiz (February 5, 2001) and Ryan Adrian Muñiz (August 16, 2003). It was a rocky marriage, and they separated in early 2002. They later reconciled and renewed their vows in a formal ceremony on December 7, 2002 at San Juan's Cathedral in Puerto Rico. The rocky marriage came to an end in October 2003 with Dayanara filing for divorce in January 2004. Less than a week after the divorce was finalized, Marc Anthony married Jennifer Lopez on June 5, 2004. To help in her recovery from the divorce, Dayanara traded her engagement ring for a diamond-encrusted Cartier watch and wrote the book Married to Me: How Committing to Myself Led to Triumph After Divorce.

Jennifer Lopez

When his divorce proceedings began, Anthony was spotted with long-time friend Jennifer Lopez. Prior to his first marriage and her second, they had briefly dated. Lopez and Anthony recorded a duet in 2004, for Lopez's film Shall We Dance? Lopez and Anthony married on June 5, 2004, less than a week after his divorce was finalized on June 1. Guests had been invited to an "afternoon party", unaware they were attending a wedding. In February 2005, Lopez said about the marriage, "Everyone knows. It's not a secret. Months later, Anthony's daughter, Arianna, appeared in Lopez's video  "Get Right".

Twins Emme Maribel Muñiz and Maximillian David Muñiz were born February 22, 2008. People paid $6 million for the first photos of the twins. As of at least January 2008, Anthony and his family reside in Brookville, New York, on Long Island.

In 2009, Anthony and Lopez purchased a stake in the Miami Dolphins. They joined several personalities in buying small stakes in the club, including Gloria and Emilio Estefan and Venus and Serena Williams.

On July 15, 2011, Anthony and Lopez announced their separation. 

Singing career

Anthony began his career as a session vocalist for freestyle and Underground New York house music acts. After changing his name to avoid confusion with his namesake, Anthony worked as a songwriter and backing vocalist for pop acts including Menudo and the Latin Rascals. His first album was a freestyle music record, "Rebel", in 1988 on Bluedog Records. That same year he wrote and produced "Boy I've Been Told" for fellow freestyle artist Sa-Fire. Then in 1989, he sang backup vocals for Ann-Marie on the freestyle club hit, "With or Without You" produced by Little Louie Vega and Todd Terry. A year later, 1990, with Little Louie Vega and Todd Terry, Marc wrote and whispered a duet with Chrissy I-eece, called "You Should Know By Now". In 1991, he sang backing vocals on another freestyle track by Edmond titled "Come Back To Me". In 1992, still working with Todd Terry, he provided vocals for "Love Change" which is on the flip-side of a 12" vinyl released by Elan and The Powermachine titled "Here's Your Hat", production of Todd Terry. At the same time, he collaborated with music producer Little Louie Vega, who featured the singer on many another freestyle-flavored club hits "Ride On The Rhythm" and the "When The Night Is Over" album, which featured the Freestyle classic "Time". In 1992, Vega and Anthony opened for Latin bandleader Tito Puente at New York's Madison Square Garden. After 1992, he changed his style from freestyle to salsa and other Latin styles.

The RMM Years

Otra Nota (1993) Anthony was initially reluctant to become a salsa musician and declined an offer to make an salsa album when Ralph Mercado, president of RMM Records, asked him. Anthony was in a taxi when he heard Juan Gabriel's hit song, "Hasta Que Te Conocí" which influenced him to change his mind and ask Mercado if he could record it as a salsa tune. Inspired by the music of Tito Puente, Rubén Blades and Juan Gabriel, Anthony released his Spanish-language debut, Otra nota, in 1993. Anthony performed at the Radio y Musica Convention hosted by Alfredo Alonso. "Si Tu No Te Fueras", "El Ultimo Beso", "Palabras Del Alma", The album also included a cover of Bread's song, "Make It with You". Subsequent tours throughout the Americas, including an opening slot for Blades, established Anthony as one of the new stars in salsa. In 1994, he was featured in La India's album Dicen Que Soy, on the song "Vivir Lo Nuestro".

Todo A Su Tiempo (1995)

His 1995 follow-up, Todo a su tiempo, has won Anthony a Billboard award for Hot Tropical Artist of the Year. The album was also nominated for a Grammy with songs like "Te Conozco Bien", "Hasta Ayer", "Nadie Como Ella", "Se Me Sigue Olvidando", "Te Amare", and "Llegaste A Mi". The album has sold more than 800,000 copies and has become established gold in the US and in Puerto Rico.

Contra la Corriente (1997)

In 1997, Anthony's more traditional-sounding follow-up, Contra la Corriente, was promoted by a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden and won the 1999 Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Performance. The album's notable songs include "Y Hubo Alguien", which became his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks Chart and the first by a salsa musician,

A move to Sony

Anthony subsequently recorded the duet "No Me Ames", with Jennifer Lopez on her album On the 6.

Marc Anthony (1999) In 1999, attempting to emulate the crossover success of Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Selena and Ricky Martin in the anglophone market, Anthony, working with top producers, Walter Afanasieff, Cory Rooney, Dan Shea, and Rodney Jerkins, released an English-language Latin Pop self titled album with the US Top 5 hit single "I Need to Know", and the Spanish version "Dímelo". Other hits include "When I Dream At Night" and "My Baby You". His song "You Sang To Me", was featured in Runaway Bride. The successful dance version was re-mixed by Dutch producer Rene Van Verseveld. The foray was considered a mixed success, partly because it alienated his traditional salsa fans, though "Da La Vuelta" (not a Spanish version of any of the songs) was a salsa song and was a hit. Another note is that the song "That's Okay" has more of a salsa tune than pop.

Libre (2001) In 2001, he debuted another salsa album known as Libre and was certified gold with songs like "Celos", "Este Loco Que Te Mira", and "Viviendo". "Barco A La Deriva", another hit in Libre, was previously performed by Venezuelan singer and actor Guillermo Dávila. The album spent 14 weeks at the number one spot on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.

Mended (2002) The year after that, he made another English-language album called Mended which included smash hit "I've Got You", the Spanish version "Te Tengo Aquí", "I Need You" (the Spanish version of which, "Me Haces Falta", was written by Mexican star Thalía), "Tragedy", "Love Won't Get Any Better", and "She Mends Me". Like his self-titled Marc Anthony album, it received mixed reviews, though slightly lower.

On July 11, 2006 Anthony released "Sigo Siendo Yo", a Spanish greatest-hits album. "Que Precio Tiene El Cielo" was the 1st single salsa song and "Lo Que No Di" as a Latin pop song.

Iconos (2010)

The album features covers of old Latin songs by artists such as Jose Luis Perales, Juan Gabriel and José José.

Acting career

Anthony appeared alongside Rubén Blades, Renoly Santiago and Latin Pop singer Ednita Nazario in Paul Simon's 1998 stage musical, The Capeman, which was unsuccessful and ran for only 68 performances.

Anthony has also appeared in a few motion pictures including the 1995 film Hackers, 1996's Big Night and The Substitute, Martin Scorsese's 1999 film Bringing Out the Dead, and Tony Scott's 2004 film Man on Fire.

Anthony stars as Héctor Lavoe in El Cantante along with his wife (who acts as Lavoe's wife in the film) which was released in August 2007. It opened to poor box office performance and the film, as well as Anthony's acting, received dismal reviews

Appearances

He appeared at the Movies Rock concert along with his wife Jennifer Lopez in 2007 where he performed Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson".

Anthony sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" when Oscar De La Hoya fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. for the WBC Welterweight title.

On September 21, 2001 he also sang the national anthem at Shea Stadium in the first game after the attack on the World Trade Center. On September 28, 2008, he sang the national anthem again at Shea Stadium for the New York Mets final regular season game. Also in 2001 he appeared in the 30th anniversary concert celebration 30 years of Michael Jackson's music.

On October 12, 2009, Anthony sang the national anthem as the Miami Dolphins played their fifth regular season game against the New York Jets.

In 2010, Anthony appeared alongside Pitbull on the Cypress Hill single "Armada Latina" for their latest album, Rise Up.

On June 25, 2010, Anthony performed as part of a tribute concert to Michael Jackson on CBS News' The Early Show.